Holt conceding nothing to Booker as election looms

WEST WINDSOR — Despite what the polls and pundits might say, one hometown contender is going to fight for the right to be United States Senator until the bitter end.

U.S. Rep. Rush Holt is making his last minute plea to local supporters and undetermined voters, encouraging them to cast their ballot during Tuesday’s primary. He’s hoping that months of campaigning and some 11th hour grass roots efforts will catipult him into the next Democratic Nomination for U.S. Senator.

“Who really counts in an election? Is it the polls and pundits or the voters?,” said Holt when asked about Democratic frontrunner Cory Booker. “The analytics and the pundits can say all they want about how they think it will turn out, I’m more interested on how it actually turns out.”

The Mercer County representative is fighting to occupy the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the late Frank Lautenberg, who died in June. The winner of Tuesday’s primary will go head to head with one of two Republicans — Tea Party activist Steve Lonegan or local doctor Alieta Eck — on Oct. 16.

Holt believes Gov. Christie scheduled the impromptu Senate election “for a self serving reason and to ensure his name was at the top of the ballot in November.” The former scientist turned politician worries a majority of constituents are either unaware or unprepared to elect a nominee.

“There are some people until now who have paid no attention to the election and there are some who don’t know there is an election (Tuesday),” said Holt. “It is true that there is then an opportunity to persuade (those voters), but an awful lot of the people who don’t know there is an election won’t pay any attention … I have to concentrate on people who are willing to think about what they want in their next U.S. Senator.”

Several local politicians and lobbyists who are following the campaign have been very vocal about their support for Holt. County Executive Brian Hughes has been a huge cheerleader for Holt’s candidacy. “I’ve been a constituent for 13 years in his district and he is a true hometown Congressman,” said Hughes during a previous interview. “Plus he was a scientist and I think that will be very beneficial to Washington.”

Hyper-local government has also echoed the county’s position. “We’re lucky there are many great candidates on the Democratic side, but I’m endorsing Rush because he’s been a great Congressmen,” said Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert. “He has been excellent on the issues and he’d represent both Princeton and the state really well in Washington.”

Most recently, Holt won the support of The National Organization for Woman-NJ PAC and the National NOW PAC. On Friday the lobbyist group released a statement saying Holt is the best candidate to uphold Lautenberg’s legacy in support of women’s rights, progressive issues, and equality for all in the Garden State and at the federal level.

“In sharp contrast to some of the other candidates in the primary race, Holt has a record of leadership on women’s and progressive issues. He has been willing to stand up and defend the rights of women, the LGBTQI community, and the hardworking voters in his district, even when it has meant challenging the political status quo,” the statement said.

Despite all the campaigning, debating and hand-shaking, Holt will run his primary election day as if it was a traditional election day. “I usually start my election day by voting first thing in the morning, whether I am on the ballot or not,” he said.

His schedule for Tuesday starts by casting his vote at the Hopewell Train Station at 7:30 a.m. and ending with an Election Day watch party at the Nassau Inn.

“An election should be help voters focus on their future and understand the choice they have in front of them, that’s what I’ve tried to do in this campaign, to help voters see the choice they have,” said Holt.

“Some other candidates have been vague in their statements; I’ve tried to help voters making it clear what the choice is.”